Integrated electrostatic peristaltic pump method and apparatus

• US 7,090,471 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2004
• Issued: 08/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: California Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: California Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Tai, Yu-Chong, Shih, Jason, Xie, Jun
• Primary Examiner(s): FREAY, CHARLES GRANT
• Application Number:
  US10/757,973
• Publication Number:
  US 20040253123A1
• Time in Patent Office: 945 Days
• Field of Search: 417/53, 417/322, 417/413.3, 137/605, 137/607, 137/609, 137/612
• US Class Current: 417/53
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 2201/036 Micropumps
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 2203/0127 Diaphragms, i.e. structures separating two media that can control the passage from one medium to another; Membranes, i.e. diaphragms with filtering function
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 2203/0338 Channels
• CPC Class Codes: B81C 1/00119 Arrangement of basic structures like cavities or channels, e.g. suitable for microfluidic systems
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/043 Micropumps
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/082 the tubular flexible member being pressed against a wall by a number of elements, each having an alternating movement in a direction perpendicular to the axes of the tubular member and each having its own driving mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/12 having peristaltic action
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/14 having plate-like flexible members
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87692 With common valve operator

Abstract

An electrostatic fluid regulating device and methods. The device has a substrate. The device also has a first electrode coupled to the substrate. The device has a polymer based diaphragm. A second electrode is coupled to the diaphragm. A polymer based fluid chamber is coupled to the diaphragm. The device also has an inlet coupled to the polymer based fluid chamber and an outlet coupled to the polymer based fluid chamber.

Claims

1. An electrostatic fluid regulating device comprising a plurality of fluid regulating elements numbered from 1 through N disposed on a substrate;

each of the fluid regulating elements comprising;

a fluid channel comprises an inlet at a first end and an outlet at a second end, the fluid channel being disposed overlying the substrate;

an actuation region disposed overlying the substrate and coupled to the fluid channel;

a polymer based diaphragm coupled between the fluid channel and the actuation region;

a first electrode coupled to the substrate and to the actuation region;

a second electrode coupled to the polymer based diaphragm;

an electrical power source coupled between the first electrode and the second electrode and substantially free from causing an electric field within the fluid channel region; and

wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are physically separated from each other by at least the actuation region, and wherein the first electrode and the second electrode provide electrode movement to vary the height of the fluid channel when a potential difference arises between them.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the fluid device is a pump.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the fluid channel contains liquid.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the fluid channel contains gas.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the actuation region contains gas.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the actuation region contains electronic liquid including fluorinate.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein each of the fluid channels of each of the respective fluid regulating elements is coupled with each other in a serial manner.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein each of the fluid channels of each of the respective fluid regulating elements is coupled with each other in parallel.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of the fluid regulating elements are actuated in a peristaltic manner.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein each of the fluid channels is characterized by a height of less than 5 microns.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein the height of the fluid channels is equal or larger than 5 micron.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein each of the polymer based diaphragms is characterized by a diameter ranging from 10 to 1000 micron.

13. The device of claim 1 wherein the polymer based diaphragm is characterized by a diameter that is larger than 1000 microns.

14. The device of claim 1 wherein the polymer based diaphragm is characterized by a thickness ranging from 0.1 to 10 microns.

15. The device of claim 1 wherein the polymer based diaphragm is characterized by a thickness of greater than 10 microns.

16. The device of claim 1 wherein the second electrode is embedded within the polymer based diaphragm.

17. The device of claim 1 wherein the substrate is made of a material selected from silicon or glass.

18. The device of claim 1 wherein the electrode comprises a material selected from the group consisting of gold, aluminum, platinum, chrome, titanium, and doped polysilicon.

19. The device of claim 1 wherein the polymer based diaphragm comprises a material selected from the group consisting of Parylene, polyimide, and silicone.

20. The device of claim 1 wherein the actuation regions of the plurality of fluid-regulating elements are connected and sealed.

21. The device of claim 1 wherein the fluid device is a valve.

22. A method of flowing a fluid comprising:

providing an electrostatic fluid regulating device comprising a plurality of fluid regulating elements numbered from 1 through N disposed on a substrate, each of the fluid regulating elements comprising,

a fluid channel comprises an inlet at a first end and an outlet at a second end, the fluid channel being disposed overlying the substrate,

an actuation region disposed overlying the substrate and coupled to the fluid channel,

a polymer based diaphragm coupled between the fluid channel and the actuation region, and

a first electrode coupled to the substrate and to the actuation region;

a second electrode coupled to the polymer based diaphragm such that the first electrode and the second electrode are physically separated from each other by at least the actuation region; and

applying electrical power from a source in a sequence to create a potential difference between the first and second electrodes of first, second, and third fluid regulating elements in turn, the first and second electrodes provide electrode movement to vary the height of the fluid channel when a potential difference arises between them such that contents of the fluid channel region are substantially free from an applied electric field.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein providing the electrostatic fluid regulating device comprises providing three fluid regulating elements.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein applying electrical power comprises applying electrical power to a first fluid regulating element, and then applying electrical power to a second fluid regulating element proximate to the first fluid regulating element, and then applying electrical power to a third fluid regulating element, the second fluid regulating element positioned between the first and third fluid regulating elements.

25. The method of claim 22 wherein applying electrical power results in a peristaltic pumping action of the fluid regulating elements.

26. The method of claim 22 wherein providing the second electrode comprises providing the second electrode sandwiched between layers of Parylene.

27. The method of claim 22 wherein applying electrical power to create a potential difference between the first and second electrodes causes the second electrode and diaphragm to be drawn toward the first electrode and the actuation region.